Today's football.

[Tubey]

"Director Of Football" The very fact that tubey has constantly been against Moyes' preferred playing style and tactics since the day he first posted, makes that a bit of an oxymoron!

Who was the last successful director of football to be a success in the prem? Oh, yeah, there hasn't really been a successful appointment of that nature in this league.....

Yet I've constantly praised his transfer market acumen, never said anything otherwise - in fact, more than most of his supporters at times!

I'd argue the last successful director of football in the Premier League WAS David Moyes. Not in the sense of the role itself as a man above the manager, but as basically a dictator in how the club was run that he became the manager and director of football all rolled into one.

No other Premier League manager bar Alex Ferguson was afforded the same trust in transfer dealings. The longer a manager remains in charge, the more control they have of the club - difference would be Wenger really who has a fair degree of politics to contend with but he's brilliant nonetheless (albeit inconsistent). Moyes' problem is that he'll never have the degree of responsibility Ferguson earned at that club, so he won't be able to work as effectively.

Difference is, Ferguson was a brilliant manager and a brilliant purchaser. Moyes is only one of those things.

EDIT: Correction to what you said by the way. I wasn't against Moyes from day one - I was against Moyes since December 2010. Prior to that I applauded the man as I was blind to his accomplishments as he had lifted us from rubbish to credible since he arrived. You'll never see me say he was a completely bad thing for Everton - only that he should have moved on a long time before he eventually did.

 

[mythbuster]

Yet I've constantly praised his transfer market acumen, never said anything otherwise - in fact, more than most of his supporters at times!

I'd argue the last successful director of football in the Premier League WAS David Moyes. Not in the sense of the role itself as a man above the manager, but as basically a dictator in how the club was run that he became the manager and director of football all rolled into one.

No other Premier League manager bar Alex Ferguson was afforded the same trust in transfer dealings. The longer a manager remains in charge, the more control they have of the club - difference would be Wenger really who has a fair degree of politics to contend with but he's brilliant nonetheless (albeit inconsistent). Moyes' problem is that he'll never have the degree of responsibility Ferguson earned at that club, so he won't be able to work as effectively.

Difference is, Ferguson was a brilliant manager and a brilliant purchaser. Moyes is only one of those things.

EDIT: Correction to what you said by the way. I wasn't against Moyes from day one - I was against Moyes since December 2010. Prior to that I applauded the man as I was blind to his accomplishments as he had lifted us from rubbish to credible since he arrived. You'll never see me say he was a completely bad thing for Everton - only that he should have moved on a long time before he eventually did.

I'd argue that giving a manager ultimate control, along with time and faith, is the best way to operate.

There's no doubting that Moyes improved us. I think he's inherited a very poor utd. team (we all know that RVP's sensational form last season was what won them the league.)

I think people tend to forget a few things: Due to the nature of modern day football, we were ALWAYS underdogs for honours. And yes, he's taken over a title winning team, but that was a team who had an unequalled aura about them, due to the fact they had an absolute GENIUS in charge for 26-years. Yes, 26 years. THAT club are just experiencing the shock of unprecedented change.

Also, they've been left in a bit of a crap state by Fergie - the players they have (apart from unfit strikers) are really distinctly average.

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

Fergie wasn't far away from being sacked before he got given money to spend, or so a man utd supporting mate tells me. That watershed moment was very early on in his Utd career, so just imagine if they'd sacked him prematurely.

Fergie has left Moyes with a dire squad, and because the United fans have been spoilt for so long they think they're entitled to success even though their team is utter balls. Moyes has a serious job on, and really, it's no surprise he's doing poorly. He has to appear to be in control, and take over the dressing room, this isn't his team at all, lest we forget.

To make matters worse Moyes faults are hindering him alongside many factors which are outside of his control.

Anyway I'm dead tired there's probably a point I was trying to come to here.

 

[The Equaliser]

Moyes isn't going to lose his job over a league cup semi final defeat. He will be given another year at least to get it right and buy some quality players, build his own team and improve their squad. If he hasn't changed his ways by then and bought into the Utd philosophy of all out attack then maybe he will be shown the door.

 

[lmurkder]

Stuck with Moyes stuck with Moyes Man United. Stuck with Moyes Stuck with Moyes I say. Stuck with Moyes stuck with Moyes. Man United.
Playing football the negative way.




'stay at this Club as long as you can because there is only one way after leaving this Club, and that is down.' - Duncan Ferguson (2011) RE: Everton FC

 

[Baines' left foot]

Juan Mata is nuts if he goes there. Surely Rooney will be off at the end of the season, too.

 

[lmurkder]

Phil Neville is very quiet at the moment isn't he?

 

[EFCNIK]

Watched with a sland fan tonight. Put a scarf on and **** myself throughout extra time and pens as well.

I feel dirty but I just can't help getting into it when I have a team I want to win.

 

[noharmdone]

Watched with a sland fan tonight. Put a scarf on and **** myself throughout extra time and pens as well.

I feel dirty but I just can't help getting into it when I have a team I want to win.

I hope someone took a pic of you Nik.

 

[lmurkder]

Watched with a sland fan tonight. Put a scarf on and **** myself throughout extra time and pens as well.

I feel dirty but I just can't help getting into it when I have a team I want to win.

Infract him someone.

You should of just worn your Everton one.

 

[EFCNIK]

Haha it's my mrs 16 year old bro. Should have seen his little face. Made up for them. I used to hate sland but thought their fans were quality at gp this season and want them to stay up now.

 

[radiostar]

hahahaha made up Sunderland beat united.

Moyes you ginger gimp

 

[noharmdone]

Haha it's my mrs 16 year old bro. Should have seen his little face. Made up for them. I used to hate sland but thought their fans were quality at gp this season and want them to stay up now.

Poyet was ace at Goodison too.
I expected the old ' we deserved the win.. Etc '
He came out with ' we were dead lucky and got battered by 10 men.. But I'm made up with the 3 points like ! '

In no fan of them Nik, but I'm made up for the lad to see a win like that..

 

[rbm]

United will be secretly pleased. They can claim pennos are a lottery and they avoid the potential of a hammering by their arch rivals at wembley in a show case game. All in not a bad night for United.

 

[dholliday]

I think the thing with Moyes is he seems steadfast in his approach to the game. The way the game is played, tactics, formations etc is constantly evolving and Moyes's philosophy is becoming increasingly outdated.

At a team like ourselves when we were struggling in the league, his ideas/game plan worked for us, it doesn't in 2014 at a club like United. If Moyes is not prepared to accept his ideology doesn't fit at United quick he will find himself forever managing clubs at the lower end of the Premier league/Championship before he knows it

Tru dat. As Scottish-boned as Fergie was (still is), he was exceptionally adaptable to the ever-changing modern game.

He took a team who had finished 15th and had them 7th in the league after his first season in charge. He then had what proved to be a blip before finishing 4th with a team of very little real quality.

Gravesen, Timmy, Carsley, Dunc & Nigel Martyn would like a word. That season also introduced Beattie and Arteta, and McFadden was decent back then. We also had Yobo. And Kevin bluddy Zidane!



Seriously, that was a pretty good team, plenty of quality. We've had better, notably 07/08 and arguably this season when everyone's fit. But the 04/05 lads certainly didn't make do with "very little real quality".

And welcome to Episode 10 of the Series "What next for Manchester United and David Moyes" and I'm joined by three former footballers who will chew over the bones - firstly England's Jamie Carragher (17 years at Liverpool), secondly another Anfield favourite in Jamie Redknapp and finally former manager Graeme Souness.. Gentlemen..

Gentlemen - stop guffawing and join us in the discussion...
Viewers, we'll be right back after a short break.

I'd laugh, but then the subject of so many kopites in the media annoys me too much.

Phil Neville is very quiet at the moment isn't he?

It's a massive achievement for a club like Man Utd to reach the League Cup semi-final and still be in with an outside shout to make top 4. Massive achievement.